The New York Herald Newspaper, May 12, 1872, Page 6

6 RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. | May 12---Sunday Within the Oc- tave of Ascension. ANNIVERSARY WEEK The Religious Programme for To-Day. Herald Religious Corre- spondence. 4 FATHER GAVAZZI DISCUSSED. The Society for the Conver- sion of Jews. Religious Notes, Personal and General. Services To-Day. The last of the series of free religious services at the Brooklyn Academy of Music takes place this evening. The following clergymen will speak :— Rev. Henry Powers, Rey. A. P. Putnam, Rev. W. H. Ward, Rev, W. Hadden and Rev. J, Hyatt Smith, Rev. Isaac Riley preaches on “Jephtha” this even- ing at the Thirty-fourth street Reformed church, Rey, Dr, Kendrick will preach at both services at the Tabernacle Baptist church, Rey, W. H. Boole discourses morning and evening at the Seventeenth street Methodist Episcopal chureh, Rey. Dr. Rylance speaks for the Children’s Fold this evening at Calvary church, Rev. 0. B, Bidwell preaches at both services at the Fiftieth street Presbyterian church. Rev. Dr. Osgood will speak on “The Noble Sorrow” and an “Eternal Life” at St, John’s Memo- rial church, Dr. A. D. Mayo, of Cincinnati, will lecture this evening at Association Hall. Rev. Dr. Flagg will speak before the Church of the Resurrection this morning. Rev. ©, 8, Harrower preaches morning and even- ing at Luke's Methodist Episcopal church, Rey. A. B, Temple, of Princeton, will preach at both services at the New England Congregational ohw Rev, George H. Hepworth preaches in Steinway Hall in the morning and again in the evening. Rey, Dr, Brann will re-deliver his lecture on the Catholic Church jn Lyric Hall, Sixth avenue, in the evening. Thomas Gales, the trance speaker, will lecture, corner of Broadway and Twenty-sixth street, morn- ing and evening. Rey. Dr, Eddy, of Fall River, Mass., will preach, morning and evening, in the South Baptist church, Revs. George Sergeant and Dr. K. P. Jervis will preach—one in the forenoon, the other in the even- ing—in the Central Methodist Episcopal church, Seventh avenue, Revs. Hugh Miller Thompson, D. D., and A. Towner Porter—the latter of Charleston, S. C,—will conduct the services and administer Holy Commu- nion in Christ Protestant Episcopal church, Fifth avenue and Thirty-sixth street, Rev. G. M. Briggs, D. D., will preach in the Church of the 4 lah twice during the day. Rev. Dr. Laws will preach in the chapel of the New York University in the forenoon, Rey. Charles F, Lee will deliver a discourse in Chickering Hall, Universalist church, in the fore+ noon. The pastors of the Free Church of St. Mary the Virgin, West Forty-fifth street, will oMclate three times during the day, the first ceremony being at seven o'clock in the morning. Rev. N. W. Fisher, of Kansas, will preach in the new Seaman's Exchange, in Cherry street. Rev. Dr. F. C. Ewer will conduct special services NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, MAY 12, 1872—Q allowing him a share tn his own salvation, though itbe through God's condescension, does not the Catholic Charch defend man's noblest faculties ? But what about Father Gavazzi's experience tn the confessional? He there found, as he would have us believe, that the belief of Catholics on this point fs faint and doubtful. I will not discuss the propriety on the part of Mr. Gavazzi to allude to his experience in the most sacred and divine tribunal on earth, There the penitent sinner en- trusts its most hidden secrets, with childlike con- fidence, to a divinely appointed minister, bound in the mot solemn manner never to r anything. Itts a tribunal of unbounded confidence, need, therefore, not dwell on the propriety of his conduct in this regard, We all abhor, as the vilest and meanest of men, one who will abuse the great confidence placed = in him, will only say that his allusion to the confessional may have served his purpose as a bait to the audience he addressed, but was entirely unnecessary to prove his assertion, Catholics all believe that good works are necessary a8 a disposition for justifica- tion, but, unfortunately, they do not always prac- tice what they believe, That is, I suppose, what Father Gavazzi meant to say. Now, one word of advice to him, We have travelled extensively in Italv, and, from facts, are inclined to think that his pretended mission and conversions are on paper rather than in reality, In Genoa there is a Protes- tant church—a fine building, seata free, &c.—but scarcely anybody frequented it. The fruit of the North does not grow in the sunny land of Italy, JUSTINUS, The Society for the Conversion of Jews. To THE EpiIToR or THE HERALD:— Ip your issue of May 10 an article met my eye, headed “Society for the Conversion of the Jews,” and knowing that anything pertaining towards en- lightenment would find space in your enterprising sheet, I have taken the liberty to propound the fol- lowing query to the American public:—Why, in the name of that religious liberty which Americans so much boast of, are not the Jews, who, although supposed to grovel in darkness, are yet farthar ad- vanced in the true religion, from the fact that they need no medium between God and themselves, as these boasters of conversion do—why, I ask again, are not they allowed to worship in this land of freedom as they deem best, with- out these philanthropic meddlers causing 0 much Inlsery, by in an age procuring some Imbectle, who, listening to their wily talk, forsakes home friends only to recelvé the scotls of his form religionists and no friendship of lus new-found fuithy The Jews are not heathens; they worship the same God that the Catholics and Protestants do; only they don't believe in Christ. the sun does this soclety wish to convert Does it wish to make them belleve that Christ is the Son of God? I hope that is not their aim, for thou- sands of Christians whose duty it is to believe this doctrine have wandered from the true faith, and I would tell them, once for all, that no matter how many Jews they get to profess Christianity, not one ina hundred but will profess what he does not be- lieve. No Jew can be e that Ohrisc was the Mes- siah, What will any enlightened man think of a re- ligion that seeks converts from a faith that claims tobe the most enlightened of the age’ Did this society ever hear of Jews attempting to make con- verts? No, for the Jewish faith emphatically for- bids any converts to bo received unless they come of thelr own free will, By inserting the above you will greatly oblige an ardent, though very young, JEW, Views of Another Correspondent on the Same Subject. To The Eprror or vr ALD I noticed an article in your paper which gives the report of the Society for the Conversion of Jews. It shows that {t expended the sum of nearly two thousand dollars and converted seven persons in ayear, Would it not be more C1 ‘tian on their to distribute that sum upon the several Christi institutions which cry daily for help than to wa: the above sum upon a useless mission? 1 do not be- Heve iney can nvert any one who really is a “Jew.” They might foratime, But that remem- ce of his creed will return later, and all the and money spent by this mission is thrown . Lay Ste Is Man a Miscrable Failure? To THE EpiTor OF THE HERALD:— What are the purposes of my being? Forced into the world, forced through the world and forced out of the world, independent of my own volition, with inherited propensities leading to unavoidable misdirections, resulting in a life of disappointment here and an existence of misery hereafter—oh, why should Ihave been born? Indeed, under the theoldgical teachings of the day, existence is so es- sentially a disappointment that the conclusion is unavoidable on the part of the philosophic mind of the age that if the inculcations of ecclesiasticiam be true, death fixes the fate of the race forever either in a monotonous heaven ora burning hell, Then, indeed, is man a miserable failure, But, thank God, by the agency of the brighter light now dawn- ing above the hilltops of superstition and fanati- cism, through the instrumentality of the phenomena and the philosophy of splrituallsin, the hopes of man are brightening and his joys enhancing. Man can now si purposes of a physical existence, with all its experiences, whether chara zed by joy or sadness, He can r the organt material mould for the shaping of t! in which the intelligent principle gathers the t away. in St, Ignatius’ church, Fortieth street, at intervals during the day, from early morning. Rev. Walter McB. Noyes will preach in the evening. Rev. Dr. C, H. Fowler, of Chicago, and Rev. Dr. J. M. Malden, of Cincinnati, will preach in St. Luke's Methodist Episcopal church morning and evening. The New York Protestant Episcopal City Mission Society will hold its twenty-second anniversary in Christ church in the evening. Father Gavazai preaches in the morning at the Brooklyn Tabernacle church and in the evening at ‘the Fourth avenue Presbyterian church, Rev. Dr. Cheever preaches in the evening before the Churoh of the Puritans. Bishop Snow will explain “The Word Behind Us" this afternoon at the University. Rev. S. Merritt, Jr., will lecture on temperance this evening at the Bedford street Methodist Episco- pal church, Rev. P. L. Davies speaks at both services at the Berean Baptist church. Rev. Dr. Thompson preaches at Rutgers College chapel at both services, ‘To-morrow evening the Very Reverend Thomas Burke, 0. P., will deliver a lecture on the Liberator of Ireland, Connell,” at the Academy of Music, ‘He will, in the course of his lecture, explain the state of Ireland at the close of the last century, and he will try to explain the “Union.” The genius of the Irish people, the last days of the Liberator his genius and character, will form the maximum of the eloquent divine’s discourse. “Father Gavazzi’s Experience in the Confessional as a Catholic Priest.” To THE Eprror oF THE HERALD:— Allow me to make a few remarks on the sermon preached by Father Gavazzi last Sunday, as re- ported in the columns of Monday’s HERALD. The reverend gentleman asserts that justification can- not be attained by good works, as Catholics con- tend, and, second, that the faith of Catholics them. selves, as to the necessity of good works, is faint and doubtful, as he knew by his experience in the confessional, Now, after all, what is the Catholic doctrine on this point? The Council of Trent says, “That faith alone does not Justify a man, in such a manner as if nothing else were required to co-operate, and as if, in no sense whatever, an act of the will were necessary to prepare and dispose the sinner unto Justification.” (C. Trent, seas. VI, can. ix.) Ace cording to this doctrine good works are required merely as a disposition on our part to prepare, dis- and co-operate with God's grace. But Christ alone is the efficient cause of our sanctification. Catholics, then, do not hold, as their opponents divulge, that justification comes by good works, These are merely a disposition. “And, in fact, sound reason supports this view. Man is possessed of free will, and even God Himself cannot force it, morally speaking. Hence it follows that man must show of his own accord his desire and willingness to accept this grace, must prepare and make him- self worthy to receive it. A gift, generally speak- | ing, is given to one who deserves and appreciates it. Now, good works are necessary because man is a free agent. The contrary opinion is based upon thé false idea that man subst lost his free will by original sin. Father G am afraid, falls into the same mistake. ‘This he shows only too plainly im com. paring justidcation or regeneration to the natural generation, and 'nferring that, as in natural gener- ation, u futher is needed to whom the generation must be wholly attributed, so also in regeneration, all comes from God and nothing is contributed by man. But the fault of the comparison is apparent. In natural generation the child does not exist, has no faculties, and, therefore, it is not wonderful When it cannot concur and is entirely passive. But in regeneration we have to deal with a being already existing, whose intellect and will are de- id who must therefore act as such, freely, el in matters of the spiritual order, It must, therefore, concur by its own good works. Such 1s the Catholic doctrine, Such, also, is the teaching indicated by sound reason and common sense. Catholics’ maintain that God in Christ is the Father in regeneration or justification, but also takes into account man’s free will, In fact, here lies the diicuity with Protestants, Luther and his adherents maintained that man’s free will had be- Come substantially vitiated by original sin; merely | its low is left; hence it can no longer co-oper- this consonant with the dignity of reason | nation against the Word o} eriences of time preparatory for the duties and the heatitudes of the future—how an earthly imperson- alization is necessary to the elimination of a celes- tial individuality. And as a sequence the appre- clative Spiritualist is no murmurer at the events of life. Let the hand of misfortune fall ever so heavily ; let the press, the anathematizing pulpit and social ostracism do their worst; let envy and malice and hate assail; let sorrow, disease and death pre- vail; he knows from this beautiful philosophy of a nobler manhood and womanhood that these are all but the incidental conditions of the universall, operative law of progress, under which he is Dulld. ing up an ethereal encasement in which that divine emanation from the Almighty centrestance of the universe, the individual soul, is destined to out- work the unimaginable destinies of a blissful im- mortality. Upon entering the studio of an earthly artist you behold before you a clay statue, You gaze upon tt with interest, thinking, perhaps, you recognize the features of some personal friend or | some distinguished citizen whom your country has chosen to honor, While you are thus contemplating it the artist quietly approaches, with hammer in hand, and strikes it a violent blow. You are startled and ready to remonstrate with him for the act, when you are arrested in your exclamation by the falling clay disclosing a beautiful figure of gold. Then the artist explains that the clay statue Was only used as a mould for the production of the beautiful image before you. And so in the workshop of Time, The outer cov- ering of clay, the body, Is but the mould servin the purposes of divine Will in time in the production of a more beautiful and ethereal organism, adapted 0 higher relations when time shall be immerged nto eternity, At length, through organic law, the ihammer of death descends, this outer covering falls faway and mingles again with its kindred elements, while the celestial encasement of interior thought and feeling is borne into the realm of more enlarged activities and diviner possibilities, Ay, itis at once removed from the earthly studio to the frescoed gal- leries of the Divine Artiticer; when renewed in the very essence of its being its loftiest hopes and brightest anticipations will be more than realized in the glorious realities of the beautiful hereafter, INVESTIGATOR, In Christendom Becoming Grectanized} To THE Eprror oF THe Heratp:— It is alamentable fact that sectarian Christians, to support their favorite dogmas, do torture the plain and simple truths of the Bible into shapes both monstrous and absurd. Such a course, I venture to say, has in all ages of the Church been a more fruit- fal source of Injury to Christianity than the combined efforts of its most bitter and persistent enemies. ‘This was true in the Dark Ages, and is far more 80 now, when the world is more enlightened than it was, and men can be no longer led by bigoted priests or frightened out of their wits by the super- stitious teachings of canting religionists. The spirit of liberty, so widely diffused over the civilized portions of the globe, has unmanacled the human mind, until freedom of thought and freedom of speech are almost universal, In connection with this subject it is, perhaps, not out of place to mention that the great error of orthodoxy is in attempting to read nature by the Bible instead of using nature to interpret the Bible; for we may be assured until the light of nature and reason falls upon the “sacred page” it is to usa sealed book, How much better it would have been for the cause of Christianity if, when the knowledge of our present system of planetary motion first broke upon the world, the Church had tried to reconcile the Bible to the fact instead of den: ing the truth, persecut- ing its expounder and bringing ridicule and indig- God! It was an easy | thing to do—just as easy as now; but the bigotry of the preachers was then, as it is now, a potent appendage of the Church, and blind zeal clung mightily to error in order to save orthodoxy intact, ‘So, at the present day, the same class of men Will resort to all kinds of nonsensical arguments, based - upon hypothesis most slender, and predicated upon ‘the most Mimsy vagaries of metaphysics, to prove What nature most flatly denies and what the Bible itself does not declare. Itison this account that men of science turn away tn disguat from a religion that shows, not only in its practice but in its the. ory spn many Inconsistencies, ut this ts notall. They go still farthe friend “Disciple” did, and actually substituns vords to suit when they are not found ether in the original or in any of the ine translations, refer to the artic! by him and publisned in your paper, in w peatedly interpolotes the word “so word ‘spirit’ should be exclusively use Far back in the dreamy Past, some po Greek, basking in the sunlit glory of his classi began to imagine that the soul of a man, wh bouy died, did not righ, but took another form and migrating from ly to body thus continued to a ud free willf By Yindicating man’s free wil, ve immortal. This was one of the first intimations UADRUPLE SHEET. of the belief. Then the transmigration of souls grew into mytholygy, and fi into nearly the wesent form, which supposes ce culled Hades, nto which the disembodied spirits are thrust, awalting their rewards and punishments. This belief was participated in by the Jews (or at least a part of them) after their contact with the Greeks; ae py the same process became attached to Chris- janity. It is this heathen faith that people s0 foolishly strive to maintain, against all the natural prompt- ings ofthe mind and the Bible, by resorting to means that are not salutary in the least, or satisfy- ing at all, to the mind of the doubting sceptic. It is painful to observe how rapidly Christendom is becoming Grecianized, bivigny then so fresh and new, which Paul preached to the Athenians on Mars Hill is preached no longer. The preacher of to-day is contending for his pury song infernal regions or his table demonstrations, telling us how we step so lightly from this to another world, at- tend our own funerals and perch unseen about the old familiar places that knew us while living. And this they do in the face of all our most natural con- victions and instincts; in opposition to every known fact; against reason and common sense and against the written Word of God itself, CATO, 28 LAIGHT STREET, ‘ The Immortality of the Soul. To THe Eprror oF Tite HERALD:— Will you allow me a few words in Sunday's edi- tion on the above subject? I should never have thought on the matter but for the correspondence published in the HeRALD, the perusal of which has awakened within me a thirst for more light. Until reading the letters of your correspondents I was a firm bellever in the immortality of the soul; but they (your correspondents) have set my mind upon arack, and it cannot be eased until [ receive fur- ther information. When I look around and see such wrangling as tv which ia the nearest road to Heaven—some Sorg this, others that, and others declaring neither to be right—I may be excused if I begin to for myself; and think for myself I will, What, then, is this thin, called the soul? Has it eyes, ears, di- mensions? I have been taught that it is an immaterial substance, but my reason tells me that such a hypothesis is an absurdity. It is as much as to say that a thing can exist and not exist at the same time; it is a8 much as to say that God can create a being, endowed with consciousness, and afterwards destroy the being without taking away the consciousness, But what ia the soul? Is it an emanation from the Divinity? If so, man most be a part of the Divinity; and if so, how can God punish himself, which he must necessarily do if some mortals are consigned to eternal damnation? I trast you will allow these queries to appear in the religions columns of your next Sunday’s edition, in the hope that they may receive a reply. DENNIS McCARTHY. “Scoptic” Hauled Over the Coa! To THK Eprror OF THE HERALD :— In Sunday's HeRALp I notice an article over the signature of “Sceptic,” which, from the clever manner in which tf is written and placed under the guise of a desire, real or assumed, to be convinced of the immortality of the soul, is calculated to shed broadcast throughout the powerful columns of the HeRavp the most insidious teachings of the class to which its author belongs, and should not remain unanswered, If a real desire is felt on the part of weptic” to become a believer not only in immor- tality but Christianity, it is only necessary to ask God in humility, confessing the unworthiness of human nature, to be led by Him; light will come; it has to thousands, and will to thousands more, Why depend upon our vanity to reason us into Heaven when it is a free gilt already ? The quotation from the New Testament alluded to is from Mark xvi., 17, and not Luke, as stated; and we find the reasonthg of “Sceptic’ characterized by the same careless oversight. By reading further he would have found that in the life of the Apostle Paul alone all that Christ promised in the quota- tion alluded to was fulfilled, Did he not heal the sick? (See Acts xxill,, 9; also Acts xiv., 8 and 10.) Did he not receive the sting of the poisonous serpent without harmf (Acts xxviil., and 6.) Yea, did he not even ratse the dead to life? (Acts XX., and 13.) Why should “4 oy long to have lived in the days of primitive Christianity? Why be like the unbelleving Thomas, who required even to thrust his hand into the wounded side of Jesus before he believed? Is it not a thousand times more precious to belong to those who are the greater blessed for believing without sight’ Regarding the quotation from Ecclesiastes, we would state that we will not admit that any one has the right of taking an abstract portion of the Bible to enforce a doctrine. We have never read a com- mentary on Ecclesiastes, neither do we wish aid in our interpretation of it.’ It ts perfectly plain, and not only plain, but satisfactory. Solomon there teaches the utter any, of man without God, The abstract portion quoted by “Sceptic” alludes to the physical nature of man. When Solomon says (Ec- clesiastes, xii., 7), “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it,” the evident Intent of the whole book becomes apparent, and Solomon’s belief in the spiritual nature of man established. ‘The active Christian believer is never harassed by the doubts and fears which torment the sceptical; all is bright, beautiful day with him. The Provi- dence of God ts so abundantly manifested in his daily life in the thousand answers to prayer God gives him—the associations of which are too sacred and acly allied to the heart to parade before the world, gives such evidence of the truth of Christ's assertions that to doubt becomes impossible. Have any among our readers stood beside the dying bed of one of God's children and seen the happiness and peace that rest upon the face of the dear de- parting, one; the beaming eyes made more beauti- nl by visions beyond the dark River of Death, of Christ and His holy angels, and the loved ones gone before; and, secing, too, the dying arms reach out to him as they fall In death, who can doubt that ven but waited for this child of God? as been my good 1ortune to form but few ac- quaintances among confirmed sceptics; but those I have known withont exception have reasoned them- selves into their truly nue t condition, simply to justify the conscience which God has implanted in their breasts, that they might give the greater license to their own lusts, In conclusicn, should “Sceptic” insist upon found- ing his belief upon abstract quotations from Scrip- ture, to show where this leads, we commend his at- tention to the following, not promising much, how- ever, but “cold comfort’ from its bo a tay Matthew, xxvil, 5—“and he (Judas) went and hanged himself,” Luke, X., 87—"Go and do thou likewise. C.M. R. Father Burke, the Dominican Orator. It is a noteworthy fact, and one that excited con- siderable attention in France a decade or more ago, that of all the great orators the Church of Rome has produced in the last century the greatest num- ber have belonged to the order of Dominicans, The most famous Dominican preacher of late days, Father Burke, has been recalled to Europe, and those who have not hitherto availed themselves of the opportunity to listen to him while in America will be gratified to know that it is yet possible to hear him before his departure. It is announced that he will lecture on the subject of “fhe Pope's Tiara: Its Past, Its Present and Its Future,” at the Academy of Music, on the evening of Thursday, the 16th instant, and tickets are already on sale at the office of the Messrs, Pond, in Union square. The Reverend Father will no doubt be greeted with an ovation that will cause him to have pleasant memo- ries of America in the years to come, as he will cer- tainly have left an impression here which cannot be otherwise than productive of good results to all who have felt the power of his pms eee and purity of purpose in working out the problem of the high- est ideal attainable in life. Clerical Changes in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York—Great Want of Pricsts—Vacancics tn City Churches, The Rev. Joseph Stumpe, formerly of the diocese of Erie, Pa., and lately of St, Stephen's, East Twenty-eighth street, has been appointed by Arch- bishop McCloskey pastor of the Church of the Im- maculate Conception, Melrose, Westchester county, vice the Rey. Francis Carle, resigned, ‘The Rey. Father Flannelly, assistant pastor of the Church of the Holy Cross, West Forty-second street, will administer the affairs of St, Augustine's, Mor- risania, during the absence of the Rev, Joseph yovan who lately sailed for Europe to recruit his ealth, There are several vacancies in the city churches, and the scarcity of assistant pastors is keenly felt by the faithful, while the acting clergy are mnch overworked, St. Peter's, Barclay street, with a congregation of about 17,000, only two assistants to help the indefati; le pastor, the Rev. Willlam uinn, he arch of the Holy Cross, West Forty-second street, has lost the services of Father Flannely, whose suc- cessor cannot be appointed until the annual ordl- nations take place at Troy. The Rey. Dr. McGlynn has only two assistants to ald him in ministering to the spiritual wants of his 23,000 parishioners. The priests of St, Stephen's have also to visit Belle- vue Hospital daily and administer the sacraments to the victims of disease and violence. The Roman Catholic Church has an immense vineyard in this city, but the laborers are comparatively few. = The Order of the Josuits, The following interesting statistics abont the Order of Jesuits 1s given by an Austrian clericaty paper:—The Society of Jesu has divided its Meld of activity into twenty-two provinces, as follows:— The English, Arragonian, Austro-Hungarian, Belgian, Castilian, Galician, German, French, Iriah, Lyonese, Mexican, Neapolitan, Dutch, Roman, Sicilian, Ve- netlan; then the provinces of Champagne, Mary- land, Missouri, New York and Toulouse. These Prarinces, are comprised in five grand divisions— taly, Germany, France, Spain and England, con- taining in afl 4,409 members, The division of England consists of the provinces England, Ireland, Maryland and Missourt; the division of Germany of the ‘German, Austro-Hungarian, Galiclan, Belgian | And Duteh provinces; the diviaion France of the provins os Champagne, France, Lyons, Toulouse and low York (the last a branch of Lyons), Td the divi: | sion of Spain belongs also the province of Mexico, ‘The greatest number of Jesuits are in Oastilia (744) and Germany Bie the fewest in the province of Mexico (17). .e Austro-Hungarian province takes the ninth rank, with 456 members, Of these 193 are priests, 112 scholastics and 151 colaborers or helping lay brethren. The sentor of the last named prorre 1s Pater General Johannes Peter Beckx in Rome. In the beginning of 1871 a9 many as 1,644 missionaries were ordained, of whom’ 168 in Europe, 352 in Asia, 159 in Africa, 815 in North America, 337 in South America, 96 in Austral including the phalipoote Islands and the Dutch Islands in the South of Asia; 17 were sent travelling. The great- on oumner of samouades were Foe the Rroviacs of Casti 291; Arrago! 17; Lyo an Germany, 136. ‘The latter were dustrivute lows:—Asia, chiefly India, 54; Africa, 3; North America, 39; South America, 35, and 4 were travelling. Religious Notes—Personal and General. Rev. Dr. Schaff has been requested by the Execu- tive Committee of the Evangelical Alliance to visit Europe this summer to make arrangements for the General Conference of the Alliance, which it is expected will be held in the city of New York in the autumn of 1873, Rey. Alfred A. Curtis, late rector of Mount Cal- vary church, Baltimore, has renounced his faith in the Episcopal Church, intending to embrace that of the Roman Cathollc, Bishop Whittingham, of the Diocese of Marytand, has formally deposed him from the Episcopal ministry, ST, MICHAEL’S CATHOLIC CHURCH. ae The Preparations for Confirmation—Ser- mon by Rev. Father Glackmyer, and Confirmation and Address by Arch- bishop McCloskey. The mission recently concluded by the Jesuit Fathers at the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Thirty-second street and Ninth avenue, was one of unusual success. The Jesuit Fathers who attended to the spiritual wants of the congregation during three wearisome weeks left nothing undone in the faithful administration of their duty. During the mission about one thousand souls were instructed and prepared for communion, and four hundred and thirty persons tor confirmation, On Thursday evening Rev. Father Glackmyer, one of the most eloquent preachers of the Jesuit Order in this city, gave his final sermon to the people of St. Michael's parish. He selected for his subject of unusual interest to all classes, creeds, and n to unbelievers—Religion.” He first exhibited the necessity of religion by alluding to THE GODLESS LIFE of those who acknowledge no Supreme Being. He then explained in a clear and brief, but forcible, manner the metaphysical, physical and moral arguments proving the existence of God, a ruling Providence, His next point was on the importance of religion, its ad ntages to all, and the firm hold it had upon the hearts of the human race, Re- ligion was important, because without it there could be no virtue, not even a semblance of the name; no faith, no hope, no charity. It con- ferred innumerable BENEFITS ON THR HUMAN RACE, by infusing a spirit of peace and rectitude into the minds of all, and by training the intel 1b servance of truth. Religion was deeply engendered in the human heart, There was no nation without its religion. Every people believed in A RULING DEITY, some supreme power, to whom they could look for succor in their necessities and hope in their de- spairing moments, The reverend preacher concluded by encouraging all to cherish a love for the religion vhich they now had the happiness of possessing— ve only true religion which was founded on truth tse According to Father Glackmyer’s announcement, after his discourse on Thursday evening, those who were to receive THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION assembled on Saturday morning, at nine o'clock precisely, A The American flag, the archiepiscopal banner and the St, Michael’s banner, bearing on it the inscrip- tion, “Quis ut Deus,” floated from the cupolas of the magnificent buildings, which have been already described in the HERALD columns. At half-past nine the procession moved from the vestry by the aisles tothe sanctuary. One cross bearer, & large number of acolytes and the follow- ing clergymen formed THE PROCESSION, viz:—Right Rev. Archbishop McCloskey, D. D., as- sisted by the Rev. Arthur J. Donnelly, pastor of the church, and Rey. Father Glackmyer, of the Society of Jesus; Rev. Henry McDowell, the energetic as- sistant priest of the parish; Rev, Henry Prat and Rey. Van Du Buvier. After all had entered the sanctuary the Arch- bishop immediately proceeded to administer THK SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION to 493 persons, 252 males and 241 females, of whom about one hundred and ten were adults and about thirty-nine converts from diferent religions. All had been baie & under the care of Rev. Henry McDowell. About forty were from the dumb and blind asylums. These were also instructed under the patronage of the priests of St. Michael's parish. The Archbishop was engaged one hour and a | anbog exactly confirming all, after which he de- vere AN ADDRESS, CONGRATULATORY and consoling in its p, to those whom he had confirmed, He said:- ‘he instructions you have received during the mission from the good fathers, who have, during three long weeks, attended to your wants, as also the training you had received from the zealous priests of your parish, leave no doubt upon my ryind that you have come instructed and prepared fbr the reception of so holy a sacra- ment. Now you feel HOW GOOD AND KIND GOD HAS ACTED toward you. You have received the Holy Ghost, the third person of the Blessed Trinity, He has en- riched you with His gifts, which if you remain faithful, shall remain with you to the end of your life. He has replenished in your souls the light of that holy faith which you received in baptism, and has, moreover, given you the gifts of intelligence, prudence and courage, which will make you love and cherish your taith—never to be ashamed to pro- fess it, and to die for it if necessary. Why is that holy faith to be tp ged 80 dearly, my dear children? Because without it you cannot be saved. and your soul's salvation is to be prized above all. You will be exposed to THE DANGERS OF THIS WICKED WORLD, dangers arising from different sources—from your passions, from the pride of your intellect, from bad companions, and trom the seductions of the world— that world which is filled with iniquity, impurit; and a contempt of God and holy things—tilled witi a spirit that would try to obliterate God's holy Gos- el and destroy his holy Church, Yes, you will have trials, my dear children, great and small, and these cannot be overcome without great grace from God. Hence, THOUGH BY BAPTISM YOU BECAME CHRISTIANS, the sacrament of confirmation which you have now received has been instituted to establish you in your holy faith and to make ou fect Christians. This sacrament leaves an indelible im- press on the soul, which will last forever, If you prove yourselves true soldiers of Jesus Christ it Will remain there until you appear before the judgment seat of Christ and win tor you AN ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM of the blessed. - But, oh! if you should become cowards; if youever fecl ashamed of your faith; and, still worse, if you should ever fall away from its teachings and protection, that impress will re- main only to testify your condemnation, Try, then, with all your hearts, in the sight of God, of your parents, your assoc: , your friends and of this congregation, to keep that holy faith forever, to remain true soldiers of Jesus Christ, and you will most assuredly win the friendship of God and secure the salvation of your souls.” METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE, eokeplteaorioeioda Reception of Fraternal Delegates—Memo- rial Services for Deceased Bishops— Father Bochm and Pioneer Methodism— Improved Condition of Bishop Janes? Hei The devotional exercises of the Conference were led yesterday by Rev. Dr. Slicer, of Baltimore, a fine, venerable, white-haired delegate, whose voice is as clear as a bell and as sweet as sympathy itself. After the reading of the journal and its amendment in certain verbal particulars, Bishop Ames intro- duced the venerable Father Boehm, now the oldest Christian minister on this Continent. The white- haired patriarch briefly and with a tremulous voice addressed the Conference. He is now in his ninety- seventh year. He attended the General Conferences of 1800, 1808 and 1812, and many others since. He travelled with Bishops Asbury, the first Methodist Episcopal Church superintendent in America, and Coke and Whatcoate. He was thankful to God, who has spared his life to see the progress of the Metho- dist Church in this country, and he rejoiced in this privilege of meeting the General Conference, on whose members he prayed the blessing of God. ‘The Committee on Episcopacy reported in favor of Lag next Friday, at half-past ten o'clock A. M., for memorial services for the deceased bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS AND PETITIONS were then called for and were received from the confere nces in alphebetical order up to Des Moines, when, at ten A, M., the order of the day was taken up id the remaining fraternal delegates were intro- duced to the Conference and delivered brief ad- dresses, The fraternal address of the Canada Wes- leyan Conference was read, after which the Rev. G. KR. Sanderson spoke, These addresses declare that the income of t urchin Canada has increased half million dollars during the rm four years. ‘The miasionary overations, too, had been enlarged. They call attention to the fact that God ts every- where planting En Lily ao | nations to be the leaven of Christlanity in those lands, Dr. Sander- son then gave a brief sketch of thg rise and prog- ress of Methodiam in Canada, and showed the fra- ternal relations which existed and still exist be- tween the two Churches on either side ef the line, aay Bonen the bond Ginvad binds bee. together grow stronger and stronger e passing A reference to the exhibition of this Chris- brotherhood on the occasion of the Chicago fre last year called forth hearty applause, In regal PROGRESS OF METHODISM IN THR DOMINION, Dr. Sanderson said that in 1828, when the super- vision of the American Methodist Episcopal Church as, withdrawn, the Canadian Church numbered pee members ; it has now 66,000. They had then Atty lethodist preachers, where they have now 600, ir missio! income was then $5,000, it ts now -~ $100,000, it year it was $83 000, with a sur- us from former rears of $1, this'sum $12,000 Boas mn raised the Sunday School Missionary bo ation, There now & movement on foot for ot cot nfederation of the various branches of Meth- pen rn Cauada. is & consummation devoutly wi } but the different branches do not yet — to be prepared to give up their peculiar dif- rences. He was, however, glad to assure them that his own church would ‘not stand in the wav, nor offer Vy? impediment to the most complete re- ference of the waited Methsalar Shak i a oe minion of canada, it Church in the Do- o Rev. jutherland, co-delegate presiding speaker, made an eloquent and Rumorone address. He dissipated the idea that Canada is a small place and capable only of raising iceber; and, perhaps, a little fish, y claimed, he said, that it is a country 120,000 square miles larger than the United States. True, a good portion of it is near the North Pole, but then, as you (we) claim to have the “Hub” ofthe universe, we (they) have one end of the axle-tree, aughter). ere are some things which the Americans have which they (Cana- dians) have not. For instance, they have not the Pacific Ratiroad, tne Yo SemiteValley, THE MORMON RELIGION, WOMAN SUFFRAGE, or George Francis Train (renewed laughter)— though we might take him off your hands (said he), because we have bid enlarged our principal insane asylum, (Great laughter). Mr. Sutherland then referred to their missions among the French Roman Catholics, the Indians and others, which are meeting with great success, ‘The fraternal address of the Wesleyan Conference of Eastern British America was next presented, after which the Rey. Henry Pope, Jr., President of the Conference, spoke. His Conference, he said, is but seventeen years old, and is comparatively small, feeble and obscure, Yet their ministry has doubled, and they have now 100,000 adherents, Dr. Pope continued tn detail the narration of the pro- gress of his Church, and closed with a love story and an expression of fraternal gratitude for the prosperity of American Methodism, The address of the National Congregational Council was next pesenied, and its representa- tive, Dr, George B. Bacon, Introduced, He pre- sented the greetings of the little Church which landed in Plymouth from the Mayflower 250 years ago. (Applause.) He envied the compactness and organization of the Methodist Church, and he thanked God for what God had wrought for the Church and the world by Methodism. He recog- nized the dissimilarities and the similarities which divide or unite aN, and he was glad that the boundaries of the Christian Church embraced them all, And in THESE DAYS OF LICENSE he would not be soe ited if another John Wesle: should arise and go forth to spread Scriptural hol ness in these lands, He prayed that God would prosper the Methodist Episcopal Church more and still more abundantly. Dr. E. A. Wheat, of the General Conference of the Methodist Church in the United States, presented the greetings of their Church, and made a few per- tinent remarks in relation to union, toward which & movement has been inaugurated, and for which he devoutly prayed. The Rev. ©, H. Williams, co- delegate, subsequently read a paper on the same subject and on lay delegation, which has been the main, If not the only dividing line between the two church bodies, D n Wild and M, Benson, of the Methodist pal Church, Canada, were then introduced. are to have an opportunity to address the Conference at some future time.’ Several notices were then made, and after singing the Doxology the Conference adjourned, Bishop Simpson announced that his colleague's, Bishop Janes, health is improving, and there is hope of his speedy recovery. THE CHURCH QUESTION IN PRUSSIA, Seen ae The Government Versus Ultramontan- ism—The Irrepressible Conflict Between Church and State—Bismarck’s Latest Confession—His Great Affection for the Press and the Representatives of the People. Berti, April 25, 1872. The aggravated diMculty between tho Ermland Bishop and the government has come to the final crisis. The new Minister of Public Instruction in- sists that Bishop Crementz shall remove the civil effects of the major excommunication pronounced by him against Professors Wollmann and Michelis, Minister Falk plausibly maintains that, as the ex- communication deprives the excommunicant of all social intercourse, and forbids the faithful to recog- nize, speak with, or visit them, it is not only a spiritual but a civil penalty and an infringement upon the rights of citizens, whom to protect is the privilege and duty of the State. The Church cannot, therefore, inflict a punishment which has this twofold effect without previously consulting the State authorities, The Minister concludes by stating to the Bishop that, unless he can remove the opposition to the laws of the land, to which he committed himself by issuing his decree of excom- munication against the above named professors, the government would consider Its sanction of his office abrogated. THE PERSISTENT BISHOP'S REPLY. Bishop Crementz, in a lengthy response, declares himself incapable of removing any contradiction which may exist between nis decree and the laws of the State, ashe had strictly adhered to the in- structions of the Catholic canon respectin, heresy, which canon, he maintains, is acknowledged by State treaties and the constitution. He further contends that the consequences of his decree do not necessarily conflict with the social standing or honor of the excommuuicant, and tries to represent them as rather harmless. In conclusion the pre- late declares his willingness to make amends in case that, by misunderstanding or passion, any of those expelled from the Church are insulted’ or ill-treated. Such is the evasive answer of the Bishop. Its weakness is evident from the fact that, at first, he rests the act of excommunication and its results on the Church statutes, while he after- wards claims the results to be harmless, and ulti- mately acknowledges that there may be something to remove. THE IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT will without doubt culminate in a withdrawal of the prelate’s salary, as stipulated (oy the Papal and Prussian governments) in the bull de salute ant- marum, and which in this case, as in that of the Bishop of Cologne, amounts to 12,000 thalers per annum, secured—as is carefully provided by the same bull—by mortgages on government forests and domains. Meanwhile the disharmony between the Romish Church and the German fpyseunins is dally increasing, being abundantly fed by the Pope's abuse of Germany In his last allocution, the expul- sion of the Jesuits, the close watch exercised by Govoare over priests in pulpits and schools, the dispute as to the appointment of military chaplains, and the warm sympathy of the imperial and the several governments for the Dillinger reformatory movement. BISMARCK’S LATEST CONFESSION, made to a blue conservative who very ingenuously inquired of His Highness if he believed that German constitutionalism, having lasted twenty-five years, would last fifty years longer, may be summed up as follows:—I am too buay with the present to enter upon such reaching speculations. If I were to express my opinion on constitutionalism I should Say that to-day we can’t do without it. The Rene representatives and the press must stand by the government; for even the most powerful absolute ruler could no longer manage the intricate machinery of State. The chief duty of the represen- tatives and the press is to expose the defects of the administration. They ought to occupy themselves Jess with the more elevated politics, for in these the chief agencies are screened from the unini- w THIS PAROXYSM OF AFFECTION for the press, however, sadly contrasts with Presi- dent Delbrueck's answer of yesterday to an inter- elation from peri Wiggers, who wished to ‘now when, if at all, the government proposed to submit the promised Press bill to the Reichstag. Last year a motion requesting government to drat such a bill was passed by an overwhelming ma- jority, and it was Indeed high time to think of abol- ishing the a unjust restrictions surrounding editors and publishers of newspapers. ‘The stamp duty on newspapers,” said the interpellator, “is a direct Kage) on stupidity, and Germany needs this bill, which President Delbruech promised us a year ago. The President coolly replied that the bill in ques- tion was not as yet drafted, and could not be laid before the House this session. This unsatisfactory answer, however, had the effect of bringing about a disqussion, Gartng which a number of speakers expressed regret at this de- lay, because, they unanimously maintained, the press is ina miserable plight—in a condition un- worthy of an enlightened country- Prominent among the complaining deputies was Herr Von Kusserow, former Secretary of the Prussian Legation at Washington, who went into ecstasies over the English press law, but looked with nore upon that of America, siwhere, he Ge oreeas as jarge upon his experience abroad, ‘ ress made the Foici o eatumay ‘and & weapon against the sanctity of fami! . How the Deputy, who was some ures vente ta Washington, obtained experience baba ggirby ‘At all in such a discovery ho must ig ak were betre; events things here remain as t ~- Of money as editors have to deposit, heavy silly pe Tubjected security for fines to which Lf nea by the police in future; their ra may be se! 4 as often the case, when subse. any day, and, ae ot guilty,” returned to them, quently judged "as waste paper with: months or years e101 out the shadow of jademnlgeation, APPEALING TO THE GREAT FATHER. —— The Descendants of the Montezumas—Their Re- ligion, Traditions and Habite—A Remarka- ble Similarity to a Japanese Tribe. The Governments Efforts to Civilize Them. Mr. W. F. Arny, the United States Indian Agent for the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, and the suc- cessor of Kit Carson, has recently come east for the purpose of furthering their civilization. His mission has two objects :— . First—To direct the attention of the Great Fat! at Washington and his people in behalf pio peaceable tribe of Indians, and to ress their de- sire to further their means of ‘support and: future advancement by the assistance of the mechanical and agricultural tools of the white man, Second—To enlist the sympathies of the rel and general Ele for them in their Anxiety be fgg io English language and Christian re- in. During the past week Mr. Arny has been on@ visit to Boston, New Haven and other New England cities, and has secured the heartiest support of the. Teligious and educational elements of that section. He arrived in this city on ‘Tharsday morning, and last evening started for Washington. In an interview with the Governor yesterday’ our reporter gleaned the following interesting information respecting the present, past and futura Condition of this tribe of Indians, who are DESCENDANTS OF THE MONTEZUMAS!— The Pueblo Indians, or, as otherwise known, the Aztecs, have always been friendly to the United States government. Their land extends along the RioGrande and west of that river a distance of two or three hundred miles. They number 7,684 inhabitants, divided sinto nineteen villages, During the rebellion they withstood all the at- tempts of Albert Pike to induce them to join the rebellion against the government. Their respect for the memory of Lincoln is second only to that of their reverence for Montezuma. Their nation represents the friendly support of the United States government as against the disturbin Stee of their neighbors, the Apachés and tne es. ‘These Indians are peculiarly adapted toa republi- can form of government and are a remarkably in- telligent and industrious people. In fact, ‘they have had a representative government amon; themselves for the past 280 years. ‘hey regard Montezuma as THEIR GREAT PROPHET and their King, and, according to their traditions, before he went back to Mexico, with a promise to return again in goog season, he left them both a political and religious FORM OF GOVERNMENT, which they scrupulously follow. Politically there are nineteen independent and sovereign republics in the Territory of New Mexico, each SUD ENINS. a village. Each has its distinct or- ganization and is ruled by a governor who is elected annually on the Ist of January, Each of these gover- nors is provided with a silver-headed cane, the present of Mr, Lincoln, and, when an order is to be executed, he gives it verbally to his subordinate oficer, The simple act of raising the cane con- veys the officiafsanction, In fact, it has the same significance to them as the writ ofa judge or the order of @ president, governor or king Snag, civilized people, They formerly used a cane, whic! was handed down from generation to generation since the days ot Montezuma. In 1861 . Lincoln sent the governor of each village a cane, with his name inscribed upon the silver head, and they now use this staif instead. These governors have full power over their re- spective villages during their term of office. When any dispute arises between these indian republica it is referred to a GENERAL MEETING OF ALL THE GOVERNORS, and if hand fail to agree then it is referred to the agent of the United States. THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEF 18 VERY PECULIAR, Their traditions teach them that’ when Montezuma left their region to establish his colony in Mexico he instructed them to worhip the sun and keep A FIRE BURNING IN EACH VILLAGE until his return. This instruction et faithfully follow. In the morning at sunrise, the Inhabitants of the villages assemble on the roofs of their houses, and turn their faces toward the East in revernence to the God of Day. Each village has its resident Priest; and every year there is selected from among the young girls of cach village TWELVE VIRGINS, whose duty it is to keep the fire burning in a build- ing peculiarly adapted to that purpose. The Aztecs are very chaste, honest and industrious; they ob- serve the marriage relation faithfully, are fond of agricultural and mechanical pursuits and have re- cently taken a very lively interest in education, both religious and secular, They are very au at learning the Tone language. . Walter G. Mar- mon, formerly of Ohio, one of their teachers and missionaries, states that only four months are, as a general rule, necessary in which to teach them to converse and read in it. ss The various religious denominations in the At- lantic States have seconded Mr, Arny in his desire to further this good work by furnishing him twenty additional teachers; the Missionary Boards to pay for their services as religious instructors and the government for their serwces as teachers, Mr. Arny has a number of specimens of the man- ufactures of these Indians in the shape of neckties, blankets, gold and silver rings and earthenware. They give astonishing evidence of skill and ingenuity when It 18 considered that the work is done without any ald of machinery and with THE RUDE TOOLS OF THE RED MAN, In this respect they greatly resemble the Japan- ese. In a hurried visit to Washington since his arrival Mr. Arny took occasion to have an inter- view with the Japanese Embassy now tn that city, and on showing them some of the photographs an workmanship of the Aztecs they at once stated that there was a similar tribe, in every respect, in their country. The Smithsonian Institute and Pro- fessor Gibbs, of New Haven, on having their attention called to this coincidence, have made arrangements to secure a comparison between the idioms of the language of these New Mexican and Japanese Indians, and the Spanish, Japanese and English languages, in order to ascer- tain, if possible, whether these Indians originated on this Continent or among the Asiatics. The federal government has promised Mr. Arny to fur- ther his views respecting these Indians in every way. He will remain in Gani e3 for ten days and then return to the Rio Grande with missionary teachers and agricultural and mechanical imple- ments, to further the civilization of these New Mexican tribes. ALLEGED POISONING OF ASSESSOR ANDER- The action taken by Mr. Alfred Anderson, the father of the late Edward 0. Anderson, Assistant Assessor of Brooklyn, in causing the body of the deceased to be disinterred at Yonkers and brought to Brooklyn, has occasioned con- siderable comment and _ surprise. No one was probabl; more surprised =than Dr. Irish. the physician who attended him, He gave a certificate that the deceased died from acute gas- tritis, and upon this Mr. Anderson was buried; and he still firmly asserts that this was the cause of his death. He is of course particularly desirous that judgment shall be suspended until an analysis hi been made by Professor Doremus, and writes the following card in relation to the case :— CARD FROM DR. 1nIstt. May 10, 1872. To My Frienps, Patrons axp tHE Pont You may havé noticed in the Brooklyn papers thatmy name has been seriously connected with the charges that have been made in regard to the death of the late Edward 0, Anderson. Upon those charges the Coroners of Kings county have deemed it their duty te haven chemiclal analysie made todlscover the cause of death, The examtnation is now in the hands of Professor Doremus, of New York, a gentleman in whose professional skill {have the highest confdene, and to whom T am will- ing to repose this matter. It will be some time before the result can be known, and in the meantime I simply re- quest that no comments be made or Judgment expressed. Twas the physician of Mr. Anderson In his last tlinoss, which terminated in his death, and which-I positively assert was by actite gastritis. For the last two years, neg Sunred Tem Cag cep teen self and fam! for nearly four yea: had his confidence as their physician. We were Intimate and confidential friends, and our families were in intt- #0. ‘ Tipon my personal and professional conduet contained in those charges, the truth of which E positively deny, Lmean, on my part, they shall not be Aubject of journalistic controversy, init shall be left to the proper tribunal, to be attended to at the proper time. -Ke- Specuully,, yorys B, IRISH, M. D., 275 Warren street. AN OLD MURDER CASE OLOSED UP, The Perpetrator Still at Large. On the 7th day of September last Joseph Schneider, a German lad of 18 years of age, was fatally stabbed in the abdomen with a knife in the hands of James McGaw, also a boy. The affray took place on the corner of Pearl and New Chambers street, and a full report appeared in the HeRALD of the 8th of September. Coroner Young took the case in charge, but, in consequence of the flight of the juvenile murderer, the investi- ition was itponed from time to time in order Ceive the Fourth Precient Police an opportunit; to arrest the fugitive, McGaw, however, had friends of sufficient mean and political influence to prevent his being a tt back to the city and State, and he ig still in one of the New England States, where it is proposed to keep him for an indefinite period or till such time as it shall be eh safe, for him toreturn. Coroner Young, finding that the ends of public justice were not to be subserved by further delay, yesterday concluded his investigation a the examination of witnesses in sion of the facts. The jury rendered a verdict against Mo @aw, and efforts for his arrest are still bei made McGaw is about ifteen years of age.